Electrolytic cell



July 21, 1931. J. N. SMITH ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed July 12, 1928 F'llllll July 21, 1931. J. N. SMITH 1,815,079

ELECTROLYTI C CELL Filed July 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 21, 1931 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES NORMAN SMITH, 0F TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA ELECTROLYTIC CELL Application filed July 12,

This invention relates to improvements in certain structural features of electrolytic cells, more particularly to cells employed in the electrolysis of water, such as described in U. S. Patent No. 1,620,052 to WilliannG. Allan, to which the features of construction forming the subject matter of the present invention may be applied.

The object of this invention is to provide means whereby inter-cell units may be readily interconnected to form a group of cells and a number of groups joined by connect ng means of high electrical efliciency and wlnch conserves the space occupied, which 1s an important consideration in devlces of this nature.

One feature of my invention consists n providing the end walls of an electrolytlc cell group with cooperating conducting terminals or engaging means to electrlca-lly connect groups of cells. A single unit cell may be provided with terminals on both' of its walls.

An embodiment of my invention 1s 1llu strated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top view of a single cell un1t provided with terminals as described;

Fig. 2 is a part vertical CIOSS-SQC'CIOII, enlarged, of one half of cell shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on the hue 22 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a part vertical end view of Fig 1;

Fig. 4 is a part elevation and a part section of Fig. 5, showing, in the left half of the figure, the frame for joining the cells of a group, and in the right half of the figure the end cell terminals for joining adjacent cells.

Fig. 5 is a top view of a group of three cells connected in the manner described hereinafter.

A single cell unit, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, comprises two half sections, indicated at 1 and 1'.

These half sections of the cell unit are of opposite polarity and are provided with flanges and joined together by suitable bolts, such as shown at 2, which are electrically insulated from one of the half sections, such 1928. Serial No. 292,106.

as 1, by the insulating bushings 3. The half sections 11 are also insulated from each other by the insulating strip 4 interposed therebetween.

Terminals, indicated at 55, (Figs. 1-3) of any suitable conducting material and configuration, are positioned on and permanently secured to the end walls of the cell. According to my preferred construction, these terminals are arranged in pairs and each hav ing one end permanently embedded in by castin the same into the end walls, as shown in Fig. 2, the projecting end of each terminal being formed with a large flatcontact surface adapted to be brought into direct contact with corresponding terminals of an adj acent cell, in order to insure a good electrical connection of high efliciency and avoid loss of energy at this point.

When a. group of cells is formed, such as illustrated in Figs. a and 5, only the outer cell walls of the end cells, 1 and 1', are provided with the terminals 5, above described. Intermediate cell units, such as 6 and 7, 6 and 7, have their adjacent wall faces pressed and held closely together by bolts, such as shown at 2 (Fig. 5), and in order to provide for current to pass from one cell unit to the other of these adjacent cell unit walls and avoid energy loss at this point, an efficient electrically conducting joint or connection is formed by interposing a thin sheet of soft copper, or other good conducting medium, between these adjacent faces, as shown at 8 and 8.

It will be seen that the objects of the invention, as set out in the preamble to this specification, may be accomplished in a very 'efiicient and simple manner by the features adapted to be electrically connected in direct contact with corresponding terminals of another cell or group of cells.

2. Means for connecting electrolytic cells,

comprising conducting terminals arranged in pairs each having oneend permanently em-. bedded in by castlng the same into the end wall, projecting from the end walls of said a number'of cell units arranged side by side and having interposed between the adjacent.

endwalls a thin copper sheet, means for pressing and holding the adjacent end wall faces and copper sh'eeti'n close contact therewith together to form with said interposed copper sheet a joint of'relatively high conductivity and low resistance.

5. A group of electrolytic cells comprising a number of cell units arrangedside by side and having. interposed between the adjacent end walls a thin copper sheet, means for pressing and holding said cells together, and terminals mounted on the outer walls of the end cells or" the group adapted to co-operate and make electrical contact with similar terminals on another cell'or group of cells.

Signed at Toronto, county of York, Province of Ontario, Canada, this 9th day of July, A. D. 1928.

JAMES NORMAN SMITH.

4:. A group of electrolytic cells comprising 

